So you think turbocharged engines are synonymous with imports? Think again. Here are a dozen American-made forced-air specials that waved the stars and stripes with pride.

Ford Mustang SVO

Ford Mustang SVO

Any time someone mentions the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost, gearhead pundits wax poetic about this car, the Mustang SVO.

The first turbo Mustang showed up in 1979 with a 135-horse 2.3-liter I4 as an alternative to a downsized 4.2-liter V8. But it wasn't until Special Vehicle Operations got its hands on the turbo Mustang that it became something special.

It had a factory Hurst shifter, Koni adjustable shocks and disc brakes at all four corners, a limited-slip differential, and up to 205 hp. Drivers also had the unique option of flicking a dash-mounted switch to toggle between fuel grades if they were stuck in a town with low-quality gas.

The turbocharged Corvair

The turbocharged Corvair

The Corvair's air-cooled, rear-mounted turbocharged flat-six engine added a little extra zip with around 150 hp when it was added as an optional powerplant. Later hardtop models had up to 180 horses.

Unlike other setups, the Corvair had no wastegate, the internal exhaust flap that opens at higher engine speed to prevent over-spinning the turbine. Instead, engineers simply built enough backpressure into the system to prevent overboost.